Capital Region BOCES - School Library System

A large envelope was recently sent to our members from the School Library System. This envelope contains most, but not all of the information you need to place your orders for Online Databases for the 2009-2010 school year.

On Monday April 20, 2009 – an e-mail was sent to you with the subject line of: Online Database Purchasing 2009-2010. This e-mail contains a .pdf file which is the 18 page catalog of all of the databases offered by Capital Region BOCES – with pricing for 2009-2010. Feel free to print it or use the electronic copy. Due to licensing agreements with vendors, we are not able to post this document to a website. Please check your e-mail!

Your envelope should contain the customized page for your school including all of the databases to which you currently subscribe. Note – it should be stapled to a pink sheet and it should have the name of your school at the top!

These two tools will help you in making your decisions for purchasing for next school year.

To make changes to your current selection, please mark your customized list and return it to us.

1. Cross out any that you wish to cancel in pencil (lightly so we can read it).

2. At the bottom of the last page, add any new databases you wish to order and the price from the price sheet.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE PRICE LIST HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU IN A .PDF FILE VIA E-MAIL. If you don’t have it—please call the office and we will resend. NO PAPER LIST WILL BE SENT THIS YEAR. We are saving on paper and copying costs.

Also—be mindful of the changes to the NOVEL collection. Prices have been included for those resources that are no longer a part of the NOVEL collection.

IMPORTANT NOTE! - many products are based on FTE (Full time equivalent—means number of full-time students enrolled). Please be sure that the number in the FTE column is correct. If it is wrong, cross it out and enter the correct number. Your pricing may be based on that number! Your FTE should be available from your business office.

BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR SHEET SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR BUSINESS OFFICIAL.

FAX BACK TO OUR OFFICE BY JUNE 5, 2009

FAX: 464-5101

Summer 2009

Summer 2009 - Professional Growth Opportunities

Curriculum for 21st Century Inquiry - Design for Early Learning
When: August 10 and 11, 2009
Monday 8:00 – 4:00
Tuesday 8:00 – 3:00
Cost: $0

15 in-service hours (note – we will work through lunch both days to make the 15 hour total – be sure to bring your lunch!)

Since 2006 librarians and teachers have been working with a regionally developed information literacy curriculum. This document will be edited and adapted to primary and intermediate learners. Does Inquiry work with little ones? Absolutely! Learn to tap into the natural curiosity of young learners and begin building skills that will serve them for a lifetime of learning!

Mary Ratzer and Linda Fox will facilitate this two day workshop. The goal at the end of day 2 is to have developed appropriate language and processes for implementation of information literacy skills at the elementary level. We especially encourage middle school and high school librarians to participate. What skills do you need to see when students arrive on your doorstep? We’ll need your input!

Database Consortium Purchasing Information for 2009-2010

These two tools will help you in making your decisions for purchasing for next school year.

To make changes to your current selection, please mark your customized list and return it to us.

1. Cross out any that you wish to cancel in pencil (lightly so we can read it).

2. At the bottom of the last page, add any new databases you wish to order and the price from the price sheet.

Also—be mindful of the changes to the NOVEL collection. Prices have been included for those resources that are no longer a part of the NOVEL collection.

BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR SHEET SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR BUSINESS OFFICIAL.

FAX BACK TO OUR OFFICE BY JUNE 5, 2009

FAX: 464-5101

Winter 2009

School Library Systems and the New York State Budget Crisis

The Capital Region BOCES School Library System joins all other SLS's in the state in concern about the state's fiscal crisis. At this writing, funding for systems is at a standstill. Part of the funding has been received, but there is no indication that the remainder of the approved funding will arrive any time soon. This has a direct impact on staffing and programs.

Because of the uncertainty of funding, SLS funded staff development programs have had to be suspended for the winter months.

Programs such as Interlibrary loan, courier, and listserv will continue unchanged. You also should not see any change in the timeline or process of database consortium purchasing as this program is funded by the membership.

My colleagues and I continue to work with legislators and their staffs to impress upon them the value of School Library Systems and the need for funding. We are watching the process in Albany very carefully as it plays out. Honestly, I am not highly optimistic in this financial climate. But the important work that you do every day, and that we attempt to support continues.

Fall 2008

Inquiry Learning in the Capital Region - A 21st Century Snapshot

An amazing group of librarians and classroom teachers demonstrated their work at Hudson Valley Community College on Friday October 3, 2008.

Inquiry Based Learning was the focus for these educators as they showed us their practical integration of the New York State Learning Standards and the Capital Area Information Fluency Curriculum.

Technology and social networking tools (Web 2.0) were demonstrated not as gee-whiz toys but real and powerful collaborative learning tools for both teachers and students.

In an effort to have a "green" and paperless conference, all presentations, resources and documents are now available online. No paper handouts were used. So you (and everyone) can see the work of these 21st Century educators!

Summer 2008

Your School Library Open 24/7 with online databases and now – E-Books!

For many years, students and parents have had access to high quality, standards-based reference materials for student projects and assignments in the form of the online databases.

This year – Capital Region BOCES is happy to announce E-Books! Through a consortia purchase, students have access to their school reference collections online – any time, any place where Internet is available.

No more missing pages. No more locked library. No more confusing or junk results in a Google search.

Your school library media specialist has the key! See your media specialist for logins and passwords to access these valuable curriculum resources!

Combine an e-books search with a database search for solid background knowledge AND current issues and events.

This year our schools have purchased the following titles for their teachers and students. All up-to-date and cross-searchable.

This collection is in addition to the existing titles available to ALL through NOVEL. Use your NOVEL account to log into GALE and check out the GVRL (Gale Virtual Reference Library) to see what you already have!

American Eras, Volumes 1-8
Climate Change in Context
Dictionary of American History
Environmental Science in Context
Eyewitness Science
Gale Encyclopedia of Science, 4th ed.
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States, 5th ed.
Literary Newsmakers for Students, Volume 1-3
New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
Novels for Students, Vols. 1-16
Social Issues Primary Sources Collection
UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History
UXL American Decades
World Eras

NOTE: Not all schools were able to participate in this purchase. But all schools have some basics through NOVEL. Check with your school library staff for your login.

Spring 2008

The Culture of Collaboration: Building Instructional Partnerships for Student Learning

Photo: Council Member Linda Fasano (Schalmont MS) with Dr. Ross Todd - February 22, 2008

Rossography

From Information to Knowledge: Charting and Measuring Changes in Students' Knowledge of a Curriculum Topic informationresearch. July 2006
Knowing and Showing How School Library Programs Help Students Learn Includes Productive Pedagogy Slides
School Libraries and Evidence-Based Practice: Dynamics, Strategies, and Outcomes
Authentic Research and Authentic Learning Through School Libraries
School Libraries: Making Them a Class Act
School Libraries as Dynamic Agents of Learning : Designing and Transforming Learning Through the School Library
Findings of the Ohio Research Study See PPT: Student Learning Through Ohio School Libraries: The Ohio Research Study

AASL has released the new "Standards for the 21st Century Learner"!

These are completely in line with the Capital Region BOCES SLS Information Fluency Curriculum. We are ahead of the curve here - thanks to all of our cutting edge library media specialists! It is available as an 8-page PDF document.

Fall 2007-Winter 2008

Congratulations to our mini-grant winners!

Altamont Elementary School - Guilderland
Cohoes High School - Cohoes City
Glencliff Elementary School - Niskayuna
Hamagrael Elementary School - Bethlehem
Joseph B. Radez Elementary - Cobleskill-Richmondville
Lincoln Elementary School - Scotia-Glenville
Okte Elementary School - Shenendehowa
Philip Livingston Middle School - Albany City
Pinewood Elementary School - Mohonasen
Westmere Elementary School - Guilderland

Spring 2007

Leading Learning Through The School Library: A Guided Inquiry Approach with Dr. Ross Todd

May 4, 2007, 8:30 - 3:00
Hudson Valley Community College Bulmer Auditorium

Participants MUST register online

This program, set within the context of current educational emphases on quality teaching and learning, meaningful pedagogy, standards based education, learning outcomes and evidence-based practice, will provide participants with research-based frameworks and strategies for designing and implementing constructivist approaches to inquiry-centered learning through the school library.

Participants will gain:

an understanding of current research in relation to constructivist learning, and student information seeking and learning in complex and diverse information environments.
an understanding of approaches to rethinking and reshaping information literacy education from a constructivist learning framework.
an understanding of the principles of guided inquiry as a pedagogical framework for constructivist learning through the school library.
strategies for designing instructional interventions for guided inquiry, and instructional exemplars.
strategies and processes for measuring and charting learning outcomes.

(Printable PDF brochure)

Winter 2006

Mini-Grants awarded to schools

Congratulations to the following Capital Region BOCES School Library System members. These schools have been awarded an SLS Mini-Grant.

All materials purchased by these grants will be available for Interlibrary Loan for all member schools.

Albany City Schools
- Livingston Middle School
- Myers Middle School
- Thomas O'Brien (TOAST)

Bethlehem Central Schools
- Bethlehem High School
- Bethlehem Middle School
- Slingerlands Elementary

Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School

Brown School

Cobleskill-Richmondville
- Cobleskill High School
- Golding Middle School
- Ryder Elementary

Cohoes City Schools
- Abram Lansing
- Cohoes High School
- Cohoes Middle School

Duanesburg High School

Green Island School
- Heatly School

Guilderland Central Schools
- Guilderland Elementary
- Lynwood Elementary
- Westmere Elementary

Mohonasen Central Schools
- Bradt Elementary
- Pinewood Elementary

Niskayuna Central Schools
- Birchwood Elementary
- Craig Elementary
- Glencliff Elementary
Northeast Parent & Child
- Northeast Parent & Child @ Grout Park

Schalmont Central Schools
- Schalmont High School
- Schalmont Middle School

Schoharie Central Schools
- Schoharie Elementary
- Schoharie High School

Scotia-Glenville Central Schools
- Glendaal Elementary
- Scotia-Glenville High School

Shenendehowa Central Schools
- Karigon Elementary
- Okte Elementary

Fall 2006

Capital Region BOCES School Library System announces Mini-Grants to schools!

The Capital Region BOCES SLS will award mini-grants to eligible schools for the purchase of library materials to support instruction and teacher-librarian collaboration.

These mini-grants are intended to boost school library collections, update the average age of collections and provide resources for inquiry-based, collaborative experiences for learners.

All public and non-public member libraries are eligible to apply. Applicants must be in good standing with the SLS, having submitted all required documents (ILL statistics, 2005-2006 Member Plan, etc.)

There must be a NYS certified SLMS who will act as custodian of these funds.

These are competitive grants. A subcommittee of the SLS Council will award grants. Strong preference will be given to proposals that include teacher/librarian collaborative projects and inquiry based learning.

Applicants are encouraged to read all directions and to submit all documents on time.

Grant Announcement (PDF)
Application (PDF)

Fall 2006

TOP 10 WAYS YOU CAN BOOST STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT USING YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM

Browse the professional collection for great ideas to motivate kids to read, improve information literacy and improve your library program.

Re-write and update your Information Literacy Curriculum for 21st century fluency competencies.

Collect evidence. Is your program making a difference? Participate in "Evidence-Based Practice" programs to learn how to find out!

Borrow materials from all of the local schools, colleges and public libraries. Don't tell your clients (teachers OR students) that you don't have it. Get it! Use Interlibrary Loan.

Build your network. Use the SLS listserv and directories. Got a sticky question? Get answers for your students by tapping the brains of all of your colleagues in the area.

Stay up-to-date! Attend technology related workshops on blogs, podcasts, wikis, search engines etc. Be a step ahead!

Collaborate. Practice what you preach. Attend Liaison and/or Council meetings and work collaboratively with other librarians.

Retrieve the best and most up-to-date articles and information using NOVEL and other online databases.

Teach your faculty, administration and students to search online using NOVEL and other online databases.

Contact your SLS staff for all kinds of information and updates. 464-5104 or send e-mail to lfox@gw.neric.org and mhannan@gw.neric.org

Summer 2006

Information Literacy Curriculum Design

What: BUILDING a regional, skills based, information literacy curriculum to serve as a platform for focused learning outcomes and teaching.

When: August 2 and 3, August 22 and 23. Participants are welcome to come for two, three or four days.

Where: Capital Region BOCES

Cost: $10 per day for lunch. Or no cost if you decide to bring your own lunch.

Registration: Online at www.crbsls.org (calendar link at left)

Why: INFORMATION LITERACY is key to 21st century learners and many regional SLMS have asked for this opportunity. Best practice for SLMS begins with a clear matrix of skills as the platform for new learning, teaching, collaboration, and integration. A regional information literacy curriculum sets a standard for instruction, design of learning experiences, assessment, and the ongoing development of a learner equipped to succeed in information environments. A skills matrix can give SLMS new credibility, validity as teachers, new opportunities to collaborate, new motivation, and progress shared and supported by peers.

"Learning and thinking skills. As much as students need to learn academic content, they also need to know how to keep learning — and make effective and innovative use of what they know — throughout their lives. Learning and thinking skills are comprised of:

Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
Communication skills
Creativity and innovation skills
Collaboration skills
Contextual learning skills
Information and media literacy skills

ICT literacy. Information and communications technology (ICT) literacy is the ability to use technology to develop 21st century content knowledge and skills, in the context of learning core subjects. Students must be able to use technology to learn content and skills — so that they know how to learn, think critically, solve problems, use information, communicate, innovate and collaborate."

Source: Frameworks For 21st Century Learning
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/frameworkflyer040606.pdf

Fall 2005

IMPACT Training participants proudly show their donations for 10,000 Books.

September 2005

BOOT CAMP 2005 - All of these librarians are either brand new librarians OR experienced librarians with new positions for the 05-06 school year. At Capital Region BOCES SLS we wish them every success in their new endeavors!

(L to R) MaryBeth Farr (NYS Library), George DuChant (Indian Lake Central School), Jan Tunison (Scotia-Glenville HS), Jeff Selby (Chatham High School), Santina Florio (Scotia-Glenville Middle School), Liz Ryan (Glen Worden Elementary School), Melissa Bergin (Niskayuna HS & Cap Region BOCES Administrative Intern & Boot Camp Facilitator), Cindy Hoffmann (Brown School), and Sharon Gaffney (Averill Park High School).

June 30, 2005

The 2005 Librarians' Reading Lists are now on-line.This year we have 76 titles recommended by librarians across the country, but mostly in Upstate New York.

April 26, 2005

Helping Kids Succeed: The Role of The Library Support Staff!

On April 26, 65 library support staff met at the Capital Region BOCES for training and collaboration. After a short presentation on the services of the School Library System, Round Table discussions provided everyone with a chance to share ideas and strategies for their school libraries. Over 17 districts and 47 public and private schools were represented. Here you'll see four of our participants from the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central Schools. More Photos

April 20, 2005

Meet Shelley Nugent - "Making It Real!" Recruitment Grant Recipient

Shelley Nugent Shelley Nugent is currently a classroom teacher at Central Park Middle School in the Schenectady City Schools. She is just beginning on her journey toward the Master's of Library Science at SUNY Albany. Shelley is the successful candidate in the Capital Region BOCES "Making It Real!" grant. This means that Shelley's tuition will be paid for by our LSTA grant. Shelley will be looking for schools in which to do her field experiences and her internships. She will occasionally be attending workshops and meetings. If you run into Shelley, please welcome her to the profession!